Facebook Timeline for Pages is Here!

Facebook Timeline for Pages is here and if you’re wondering just how to navigate around the new format or looking for some tips to get the most out of this new format then you’ve come to the right place. Don’t really want to get to know the new Facebook Timeline for Pages? Sorry to hear that, because its going to be a mandatory change at the end of March, so you may as well learn to love it now. Its never a bad idea to stay ahead of the game either so on that note lets get started.

Facebook Timeline for Pages | Profile Image

Under the old Facebook Pages, you could expand this profile image to 180 x 540, giving you a good opportunity to list benefits of your business. Now, the profile pic is simply 180 x 180; about enough room for a simple logo. You’ll want to make sure that you have a nice profile image because this image will be shown as a thumbnail everywhere whenever you post. While it is okay to change your cover photo, for best branding practices, it is recommended that you keep your Profile Image the same.

Facebook Timeline for Pages | Cover Photo

The cover photo in Facebook Timeline for Pages, just like in the personal Timeline, is the top cover that will provide your customers with their first impression of your page. The dimensions of the cover photos are 851 x 315 pixels. You can re-size and re-position this image after you upload it to Facebook. The goal of the cover photo is to show what your company is about in pictures rather than text. To ensure compliance with this visio, Facebook has listed what it will not allow you to do with a Cover Photo:

Price or purchase information, such as “40% off” or “Download it at our website”

References to user interface elements, such as Like or Share, or any other Facebook site features

Calls to action, such as “Get it now” or “Tell your friends”

Instead of being spammy with your cover photo, use this space to heighten the brand experience on your page.

Facebook Timeline for Pages | Pinning

How to pin

Perhaps my favorite addition to the Facebook Timeline for Pages page is the ‘pinning’ function. This function allows you to keep an important post at the top of our feed for up to 7 days. So if you’re running a contest and want to keep the contest details at the top of the page, rather than having it pushed down by your fans’ comments, then you can ‘pin’ to the top. The photo n the right shows you how to pin. Simply move your cursor over the top right of the post and you will see a pencil icon appear. Click on that and you will see a ‘pin to top’ option appear. If you want to ‘unpin’, then simply unpin the image. Very quick and easy to do.

Facebook Timeline for Pages | Application Tabs

Under the cover photo are four 111 x 74 boxes with images identifying the top application tabs you would like your users to see. The first tab, ‘photos’, is fixed; your users will always see this one. The other tabs can be interchanged as needed. Wildfire apps gives the following advice on which tabs to display:

Make the most of tabs:
• Devote some time to building out your Photos tab since it’s ever-present
• Switch up your three customizable tabs periodically, according to current brand objectives,
product releases, or product popularity
• Utilize a good page analytics tool to determine which tabs to promote day-to-day

Additional best practices for tab images and content:
• Choose tab images that are descriptive, include iconography or copy, and comport
with specifications
• Assign names to your tabs that clearly indicate to users the content the tabs are driving to
• If you drive users to a landing tab, include an on-brand call to action in the tab name that
encourages users to click (e.g., “Start here,” or “Party with us!”)

Facebook Timeline for Pages | Highlights and stars

While you can only pin one post on the new Facebook Timeline for Pages, you may still have other relevant posts that you want to stand out. Just like on the personal Facebook Timeline, you can highlight and star important events. When you run your cursor over the top right of a post, to the left of the ‘pencil’ icon for pinning, you’ll see a ‘star’. By clicking on the star, your post will double in size and stand out from the rest of the posts.

Facebook Timeline for Pages | About

The ‘about’ section of the Facebook Timeline for Pages is where Facebook would like you to put all pertinent information about your business. You can put a summary of your page in about 150 characters, a company overview, and a description. Also, in the about section, you are able to put in your contact information.

Facebook Timeline for Pages | Milestones

Facebook timeline for brands milestones

Want to highlight some business moments from way back when? Well with the new Facebook Timeline for Pages you can do just that. By entering the year, you will then have the option of entering in the specific date. Then as people scroll to the bottom of your Facebook Timeline for Brands, they will see your company history.

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